Irfan Pathan had doubts about MS Dhoni’s choice to not let Daryl Mitchell face more balls. This occurred in the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) match versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2024 tournament.
MS Dhoni struck 14 runs off 11 deliveries as CSK set PBKS a 163-run goal in Chennai on Wednesday, May 1. The visitors knocked down the target with seven wickets and 13 deliveries to spare, moving into seventh place on the points table.
During a Star Sports interview, Pathan was asked about Dhoni’s knock, including his maiden six at Chepauk this season. when acknowledging that the former CSK captain might have done better, the cricketer-turned-commentator questioned his choice to forgo a single when playing alongside Mitchell.
“You will definitely talk about the six since MS Dhoni has a huge fan following. People love him a lot. However, the sort of knock he played, more was expected from him.”
“He shouldn’t have done that (refusing a single). This is a team game. Don’t do that in a team game. The other guy is also an international player. If he had been a bowler, I would have understood it for sure. You have done that with (Ravindra) Jadeja and with Mitchell as well. You don’t need to do that. He could have avoided it.”
Irfan Pathan
Dhoni blasted the third ball of Arshdeep Singh’s final over to long off. He instructed Mitchell to return to the non-striker’s end once the New Zealand batter had reached the striker’s end for a single. Dhoni then smashed a six off the penultimate ball and was run out while attempting to score a second run off the final pitch.
“Curran getting a spinner to bowl the 19th over was a masterstroke” – Irfan Pathan praises PBKS’ tactics against MS Dhoni
Irfan Pathan called Sam Curran’s choice to give the 19th over to Rahul Chahar a smart move when MS Dhoni was batting.
“Curran getting a spinner to bowl the 19th over was a masterstroke because considering the form MS Dhoni is in, he could have taken the game way forward in those two overs. He could have scored 30 runs in two overs but they didn’t allow him to do that.”
Irfan Pathan
While appreciating Arshdeep Singh for delivering a great last over, the former India all-rounder stated that Dhoni does not bat higher up the order due to his recent troubles with spin.
“You bowled to him with excellent planning. Although a six was hit for sure in Arshdeep’s over, he also bowled well. He (Dhoni) has been unable to score runs against spinners in the last few years, which is why he is bringing himself down the order. He is scoring runs in the last over when the fast bowlers are thinking of bowling yorkers.”
Irfan Pathan
In the 19th over, Dhoni scored two runs off four deliveries from Rahul Chahar. The leg-spinner also removed Moeen Ali in the same over, while Daryl Mitchell only managed a single from the one ball he faced.